Cherish and Share: Hank's Story

Life on the road when your owner’s a country music recording artist can be pretty crazy, but for Hank, it was all part of the adventure.

Hank entered Alecia’s life in the winter of 2010. She gave him his name after legendary country artist, Hank Williams Sr. He quickly became her constant companion, accompanying her on tours, to band practices, camping, hiking, and boating. They went almost everywhere together. “Everyone loved Hank—the music industry, my band, my music students, my family and friends…He had the sweetest way about him with his endearing snorts and how he would ‘talk’ when he wanted something…even the farm cats loved him!”

Despite needing to navigate several food allergies, Hank was spoiled with salmon and his favourite peanut butter treats. He also enjoyed sharing apples with his owner. He was an avid fan of his toys, particularly a stuffed dog that he had chewed to rags and wouldn’t let Alecia throw out. “Now it’s a treasure to me,” says Alecia.

Unlike most dogs, Hank adored clothes and he had an extensive wardrobe to prove it. Sweaters, jackets, jerseys, and costumes… He especially loved his Vancouver Canucks hoodie and Sheriff Hank costume. He even had his own life jacket!

“Hank was there for me, and I for him, through many tough times which is probably why our bond was so strong.” He went through knee surgery at two years old, a ruptured disk in his back at four years old, and ear surgery—all of which Alecia was by his side. But Hank was always there to repay the favour. “Little did I know that a year after adopting Hank my world would fall apart and Hank would be there to help me pick up the pieces and move on with my life.”

Hank was hospitalized in June 2018 with a rare spinal empyema. Alecia describes those long eighteen days of driving back and forth to Calgary to be with him as the hardest of her life. Tragically, he passed away on June 10th at almost nine years old.

“Hank taught me so many things, including how to love with my whole heart…I was very blessed to have him, and I miss him every single day. I will carry him forever in my heart, soul and song until I hold him in Heaven.”

Alecia chose to have Hank’s impression incorporate his brindle coloring and the thin white stripe down his face. She displays it in her bedroom next to Hank’s golden heart urn and a framed photo of him. “I held his paws in my hands and kissed his forehead when we said goodbye, so this impression of his paw prints is incredibly special.”

Hank lives on in Alecia’s heart and in her music. She wrote and recorded “Hooked on Us” in Nashville, a song practically inspired by Hank. Alecia dedicated the song’s summer release to him(you can download the song here).

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Alecia chose to have Hank’s impression incorporate his brindle coloring and the thin white stripe down his face. She displays it in her bedroom next to Hank’s golden heart urn and a framed photo of him. “I held his paws in my hands and kissed his forehead when we said goodbye, so this impression of his paw prints is incredibly special.”